Chamelaucium plant named ‘NIR EDEN’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Chamelaucium  cultivar named ‘NIR EDEN’ is disclosed, characterized by unique flower size and color, solid petal color. The new variety is a  Chamelaucium,  normally producing cut flower stems, or as a garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Chamelaucium uncinatum.

Variety denomination: ‘NIR EDEN’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Chamelaucium cultivar is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor, Nitzan Nir, in Kfar Hess, Israel. Theobjective of the breeding program was to produce new Chamelauciumvarieties for ornamental commercial applications. The new variety is aproduct of cross breeding that occurred during 2010 , at a commercialnursery in Kfar Hess, Israel.

The seed parent is the unpatented, variety Chamelaucium ‘Atar’. Thepollen parent is the unpatented, variety Chamelaucium ‘Eden’. The newvariety was discovered in January of 2009 by the inventor in a group ofseedlings resulting from the crossing, in a commercial nursery in KfarHess, Israel.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar has been performed byvegetative cuttings. This was first performed at a commercial nursery inKfar Hess, Israel in April of 2009 and has shown that the uniquefeatures of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in foursuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘NIR EDEN’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘NIR EDEN’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘NIR EDEN’ as a new and distinct Chamelauciumcultivar:

-   -   1. Dark pink flower color.    -   2. Open branch structure.    -   3. Mid season blooming.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘NIR EDEN’ are similar to plants of the seedparent, Chamelaucium ‘Atar’ in most horticultural characteristics,however, plants of the new cultivar ‘NIR EDEN’ produces a differentflower color than the seed parent.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘NIR EDEN’ are similar to plants of thepollen parent; Chamelaucium ‘Eden’ in most horticulturalcharacteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘NIR EDEN’ producea different branch structure compared to the pollen parent.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

‘NIR EDEN’ can be compared to the unpatented commercial varietyChamelaucium ‘M.B. Violet’, Plants of ‘NIR EDEN’ are similar to plantsof ‘M.B. Violet’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, plantsof ‘NIR EDEN’ produce a solid colored petal compared to the petal of‘M.B. Violet’ which has a white ring at the center. Additionally ‘NIREDEN’ produces a flower of different size than those of the comparator.

‘NIR EDEN’ can be compared to the commercial variety Chamelaucium ‘M.B.Orchid’ Plants of ‘NIR EDEN’ are similar to plants of ‘M.B. Orchid’ inmost horticultural characteristics, however, plants of ‘NIR EDEN’produce flowers of different size and color as well as a different bloomdate than the comparator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a closeup of typical flowers and foliage of ‘NIR EDEN’ at approximately 1 yearof age.

The photograph was taken using conventional techniques and althoughcolors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectanceit is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 2007 except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘NIR EDEN’ plants grown outdoors in Kfar Hess,Israel. The growing temperature ranged from 15° C. to 35° C. during theday and from −2° C. to 35° C. during the night. General light conditionsare bright, normal sunlight. Measurements and numerical values representaverages of typical plant types. Chemical treatments included generalfungicides and insecticides.

-   Botanical classification: Chamelaucium uncinatum ‘NIR EDEN’.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to produce a rooted plantlet: 30 to 60 days at approximately    24° C.-   Root description: Fibrous.-   Root color: Varies, new root growth near Orange 159D, older, woodier    roots near Grey-Brown N 199A, 199A, 199B.

PLANT

-   Age of plant described: 2 months from a rooted cutting.-   Growth habit: Upright.-   Pot size of plant described: 2 liter pot.-   Height: 200 cm to top of foliage. 197 cm to top of flowers.-   Plant spread: 80 cm.-   Growth rate: Rapid.-   Branching characteristics: Free branching after a pinch.-   Length of primary lateral branches: 60 cm to 200 cm.-   Diameter of lateral branches: 0.4 cm.-   Quantity of primary lateral branches: 120-150.-   Characteristics of primary lateral branches:    -   -   Form.—Round.        -   Diameter.—0.5 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 147A.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Strength.—Stems brittle.-   Internode length: 1.5-11 cm.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Quantity.—Approximately 6 leaves, in the 10-15 cm section            from the top of the branch.        -   Average length.—2.2 cm.        -   Average width.—0.1 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Needle.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Attemuate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture of surfaces.—All surfaces glabrous.        -   Pubescence.—None.        -   Aspect.—Straight, approximately 15 to 45 degree angle from            stem.        -   Color.—Young foliage: Near RHS Yellow-Green 147A. Mature            foliage: Near RHS Green 137A, but darker.        -   Venation.—Indistinguishable from foliage.        -   Petiole.—Not present.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: Plants planted during April through    October begin flowering December through February, without a    juvenility period in Kfar Hess, Israel. Plants flower continuously    under short day conditions.-   Days to flowering from rooted cutting: Short day photoperiodic    conditions. No juvenility.-   Inflorescence type: Terminal and axillary occurring panicle.-   Individual flower type: Single, rotate 5 petaled with an obconical    shaped hypanthium. Flowers outwardly facing.-   Persistent or self-cleaning: Self-Cleaning.-   Rate of flower opening: 65 to 90 days from bud to fully opened    flower.-   Typical flowering stem length: Approximately 70 to 110 cm.-   Typical flowering stems harvested per plant: 120 - 150.-   Vase life of flowers: Two weeks. Approximately 45 to 60 days on the    plant.-   Bud:    -   -   Shape.—Round.        -   Length.—0.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.5 cm.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.        -   Color.—Near Purple N79D.-   Inflorescence size:    -   -   Diameter.—Average 20 cm.        -   Length.—Average 11 cm.-   Flower size:    -   -   Diameter.—2.0 cm.        -   Length.—0.6 cm.-   Corolla:    -   -   Petals.—Length: 0.5 cm. Diameter: 0.55 cm. Quantity: 5.            Texture: Smooth upper and lower surfaces. Apex: Obtuse            rounded. Base: Fused into a hypanthium.        -   Color.—When opening: Upper surface: Near Red-Purple 72A.            Lower surface: Near Purple N79A. Fully opened: Upper            surface: Near Red-Purple 70A. Lower surface: Near Red-Purple            72A. Aging: Upper surface: Near Red-Purple 72A. Lower            surface: Near Red-Purple 72A.-   Hypanthium:    -   -   Diameter.—0.9 cm.        -   Length.—0.35 cm.        -   Shape.—Obconical.        -   Color.—When opening: Upper surface: Near Red-Purple 72A.            Lower surface: Near Purple N79A. Fully opened: Upper            surface: Near Red-Purple 70A. Lower surface: Near Red-Purple            72A. Aging: Upper surface: Near Red-Purple 72A. Lower            surface: Near Red-Purple 72A.-   Calyx/sepals:    -   -   Quantity per flower.—Fused into a single conical structure.        -   Shape.—Conic.        -   Length.—0.35 cm.        -   Width.—0.9 cm.        -   Margin.—Entire, incised approximately 1 mm.        -   Texture.—Smooth outer and inner surfaces.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 147A, covered with            Greyed-Purple 187B.-   Peduncle: Peduncle is the lateral branch.-   Pedicel:    -   -   Length.—0.8 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.1 cm.        -   Color.—Near Yellow-Green 147A.-   Fragrance: None.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:    -   -   Number.—10.        -   Filament length.—1 mm.        -   Filament color.—Near RHS Red 56D.-   Anthers:    -   -   Shape.—Oval.        -   Length.—0.25-0.5 mm.        -   Width.—0.15 mm.        -   Color.—Near Purple 77A.-   Pollen: Not observed.-   Pistil:    -   -   Number.—1.        -   Length.—0.5 cm.        -   Style.—Length: 0.49 cm. Color: Near Purple 77D.        -   Stigma.—Shape: Round. Color: Near Purple N77B.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: Single flower produces one fruit. When the fruit    is fertile, it will produce 1 seed, occasionally 2 seeds. Fruit type    is a nut, colored near Grey-Brown N199A, seed is unwinged colored    approximately 1.5 mm, brown in color, too minute to accurately    measure color with R.H.S. chart.-   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    the normal diseases and pests of Chamelaucium have been observed to    date.-   Temperature tolerance: From −2° C. to 35° C.-   Drought tolerance: Very good tolerance for drought.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chamelaucium plantnamed ‘NIR EDEN’ as herein illustrated and described.